Region 3 Prevention Lead Grant
Together, we can build a prevention network.
Using the Strategic Prevention Framework and the Vermont Prevention Model as a foundation, NVRH and its partners are one of four Prevention Leads throughout the state of Vermont, and are leading the region in its efforts to address substance misuse among all ages.
The Prevention Lead grant from the Vermont Department of Health, Division of Substance Use Programs, is in the amount of $1.2 million dollars. Thanks to this grant, NVRH leads a regional effort to increase the prevention capacity of the St. Johnsbury, Newport, and Morrisville Health Districts. These districts are represented in a Region 3 Advisory Committee, which guides the regional work that includes decisions about competitive and noncompetitive subawards based on a needs assessment conducted within the first few months of the grant.
The grant is for a period of two years.
Region 3 Prevention Lead Coordination Team
Jessica Bickford
Coalition Coordinator, Certified Prevention Specialist
Healthy Lamoille Valley
jessica@healthylamoillevalley.org
Cheryl Chandler
Prevention Program Coordinator
Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital
C.Chandler@NVRH.org
Amanda Cochrane
Executive Director
Umbrella Inc.
amandac@umbrellanek.org
Tiffany Garces
Prevention Consultant
Division of Substance Use Programs (DSU)
Vermont Department of Health
Tiffany.Garces@vermont.gov
Joe Stacy, MPH
Prevention Consultant
Division of Substance Use Programs (DSU)
Vermont Department of Health
Joseph.Stacy@vermont.gov
Carolyn Towne
Director of Substance Misuse Prevention
Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital
C.Towne@NVRH.org
FY 2026 Subrecipients
Newport Health District
Coventry Village School received $10,000 to continue supporting and educating students in grades six through eight about substance use and misuse. They will contract with Journey to Recovery Community Center to continue this programming.
Lake Region Union High School received $15,307 to continue providing prevention and early intervention supports and curriculum to students, including embedding Peer Support Recovery Coaches in the school part-time. The school is contracting with Journey to Recovery Community Center.
St. Johnsbury Health District
Kingdom East School District (KESD) received $15,885 for PROSPER (Promoting School Partnerships to Encourage Resilience). PROSPER is an empirically validated delivery system for supporting sustained, effective delivery of evidence-based programs (Strengthening Families Program 10 – 14 and Life Skills Training) for middle school youth and their families. Specifically, PROSPER is a collaboration between the University of Vermont – Extension, the Kingdom East School District and the community that builds strong families and youth, by developing better family communication, empathy, and skills needed to avoid risky behaviors.
The HUB received $15,151 to continue their project providing a welcoming and safe space for community members, likely living at or below the poverty line, to enjoy a meal together or take the prepared meal out to enjoy later. This project will involve local community volunteers to prepare, cook, package ready to-go meals and deliver meals to the HUB for distribution on a weekly basis.
Morrisville Health District
Hazen Union School received $15,000 to establish a school-based Student Wellness Center that will provide a safe space for holistic student support, allowing students to learn and develop tools to manage emotions, cultivate healthy coping mechanisms, and mitigate stress.
Hyde Park Elementary School (HPES) received $15,000 to build on their School House System implemented this past January with great success. These Houses will continue to act as their “school family” during all their years at HPES. This system builds character, encourages academic excellence, fosters school spirit, strengthens relationships and promotes a culture of belonging for all.
The Center for Agricultural Economy received $11,000 to build on work begun in the community through the FY24 grant award. The project fosters social connection, addresses needs identified by the community and emphasizes assets using a big picture approach.
Newport and St. Johnsbury Health Districts
Northeast Kingdom Human Services (NKHS) received $18,718 to expand on the FY24 grant award to implement a training plan. This plan includes recruiting an NKHS employee to become a nationally certified instructor in Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) to offer adults that interact with Northeast Kingdom (NEK) youth the opportunity to learn how to help when youth experience mental health or substance misuse challenges. This certification plan includes teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) to offer high school teens the opportunity to learn how to build a community of support for their peers. QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) certification will allow the instructor to co-present suicide prevention awareness introductory training for anyone.
Umbrella received $14,930 to fund an integrated approach for addressing risk and protective factors for individuals who are experiencing domestic/sexual violence and who have a history of substance misuse. They will utilize the needs assessment data collected from their FY24 grant award as the foundation for building a coordinated community response model. The focus will be on prevention strategies to reduce the identified risk factors and system improvements that support protective factors for survivors.
Morrisville and St. Johnsbury Health Districts
DREAM Program received $20,000 to support continuation of their “Guided Mentoring” program, which is an in school, curriculum-based, peer-to-peer mentoring program that explores four key themes: mentoring strategy, identity, sense of place, and purpose.
St. Johnsbury, Newport and Morrisville Health Districts
Coalitions Northeast Prevention Coalition, 302 Cares, ONE Prevention and Healthy Lamoille Valley received $100,000 per Health District with an additional $7,000 to each health district to increase supports for LGBTQIA+ youth. Funding for coalitions supports ongoing and sustainable substance misuse prevention work in their respective communities. Coalitions implement evidence-based practices aimed at promoting protective factors and reducing risk factors across the lifespan.
FY 2025 Subrecipients
Newport Health District
Coventry Village School received $10,000 to continue supporting and educating students in grades six through eight about substance use and misuse. They will contract with Journey to Recovery Community Center to continue this programming.
Lake Region Union High School received $15,307 to continue providing prevention and early intervention supports and curriculum to students, including embedding Peer Support Recovery Coaches in the school part-time. The school is contracting with Journey to Recovery Community Center.
St. Johnsbury Health District
Kingdom East School District (KESD) received $15,885 for PROSPER (Promoting School Partnerships to Encourage Resilience). PROSPER is an empirically validated delivery system for supporting sustained, effective delivery of evidence-based programs (Strengthening Families Program 10 – 14 and Life Skills Training) for middle school youth and their families. Specifically, PROSPER is a collaboration between the University of Vermont – Extension, the Kingdom East School District and the community that builds strong families and youth, by developing better family communication, empathy, and skills needed to avoid risky behaviors.
The HUB received $15,151 to continue their project providing a welcoming and safe space for community members, likely living at or below the poverty line, to enjoy a meal together or take the prepared meal out to enjoy later. This project will involve local community volunteers to prepare, cook, package ready to-go meals and deliver meals to the HUB for distribution on a weekly basis.
Morrisville Health District
Hazen Union School received $15,000 to establish a school-based Student Wellness Center that will provide a safe space for holistic student support, allowing students to learn and develop tools to manage emotions, cultivate healthy coping mechanisms, and mitigate stress.
Hyde Park Elementary School (HPES) received $15,000 to build on their School House System implemented this past January with great success. These Houses will continue to act as their “school family” during all their years at HPES. This system builds character, encourages academic excellence, fosters school spirit, strengthens relationships and promotes a culture of belonging for all.
The Center for Agricultural Economy received $11,000 to build on work begun in the community through the FY24 grant award. The project fosters social connection, addresses needs identified by the community and emphasizes assets using a big picture approach.
Newport and St. Johnsbury Health Districts
Northeast Kingdom Human Services (NKHS) received $18,718 to expand on the FY24 grant award to implement a training plan. This plan includes recruiting an NKHS employee to become a nationally certified instructor in Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) to offer adults that interact with Northeast Kingdom (NEK) youth the opportunity to learn how to help when youth experience mental health or substance misuse challenges. This certification plan includes teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) to offer high school teens the opportunity to learn how to build a community of support for their peers. QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) certification will allow the instructor to co-present suicide prevention awareness introductory training for anyone.
Umbrella received $14,930 to fund an integrated approach for addressing risk and protective factors for individuals who are experiencing domestic/sexual violence and who have a history of substance misuse. They will utilize the needs assessment data collected from their FY24 grant award as the foundation for building a coordinated community response model. The focus will be on prevention strategies to reduce the identified risk factors and system improvements that support protective factors for survivors.
Morrisville and St. Johnsbury Health Districts
DREAM Program received $20,000 to support continuation of their “Guided Mentoring” program, which is an in school, curriculum-based, peer-to-peer mentoring program that explores four key themes: mentoring strategy, identity, sense of place, and purpose.
St. Johnsbury, Newport and Morrisville Health Districts
Coalitions Northeast Prevention Coalition, 302 Cares, ONE Prevention and Healthy Lamoille Valley received $100,000 per Health District with an additional $7,000 to each health district to increase supports for LGBTQIA+ youth. Funding for coalitions supports ongoing and sustainable substance misuse prevention work in their respective communities. Coalitions implement evidence-based practices aimed at promoting protective factors and reducing risk factors across the lifespan.
FY 2024 Subrecipients
Newport Health District
Coventry Village School received $10,000 to continue supporting and educating students in grades six through eight about substance use and misuse. They will contract with Journey to Recovery Community Center to continue this programming.
Lake Region Union High School received $15,000 to continue providing substance misuse prevention and early intervention, including delivery of curriculum and individual support. The school is contracting with Journey to Recovery Community Center.
North Country Supervisory Union received $10,000 to expand club offerings in the evening, providing students with opportunities to explore their passions and connect them to future career pathways.
St. Johnsbury Health District
Kingdom East School District (KESD) received $13,000 to continue offering PROSPER (Promoting School Partnerships to Encourage Resilience). PROSPER is an empirically validated delivery system for supporting sustained, effective delivery of evidence-based programs (Strengthening Families Program 10 – 14 and Life Skills Training) for middle school youth and their families. Specifically, PROSPER is a collaboration between the University of Vermont – Extension, the Kingdom East School District and the community that builds strong families and youth, by developing better family communication, empathy, and skills needed to avoid risky behaviors.
Kingdom Recovery Center received up to $7,000 to support implementation of A Window Between Worlds, an art-based healing model to support adults in recovery from substance use disorder. The program aims to reduce relapse risk, improve coping strategies, and promote long-term recovery.
Stable Connections received $9,000 to support their Leading the Way program offering a unique opportunity for experiential learning with a focus on strengthening confidence, connectedness, character and leadership skills of the youth participants.
The St. Johnsbury School District received $15,000 to offer VermontHER, an innovative program designed to create a supportive and empowering community for female identifying middle school youth at St. Johnsbury School. The project fosters a safe, inclusive environment developing confident, strong peer relationships and connection with supportive adults through mentorship and leadership development.
Morrisville Health District
Hyde Park Elementary School (HPES) received $14,500 to build on the success of their School House System (think Harry Potter) implemented with support of grant awards the past two years. These Houses will continue to act as their “school family,” fostering critical protective factors by embedding relationships, structure, and celebration into the daily experience of school life. It reinforces shared values, amplifies student voice, and builds a web of positive connections between students, staff, and families.
Lamoille South Supervisory Union received $10,000 for Building Belonging & Resilience in their high school community. Through four intentionally designed school-community events, the project will provide high-impact experiences combining substance misuse prevention education, skill-building, and celebration in safe, inclusive spaces.
North Central Vermont Recovery Center received $19,877 to support a group of youth in building connection, confidence, and healthy coping and life skills that strengthen resilience and support recovery. The program brings together youth, adult mentors with lived or professional experience in recovery, and trained peer leaders for weekly meetings that combine peer support, mentorship, and community engagement activities.
The Center for Agricultural Economy received $14,500 to build on work begun in the community through the FY24 & FY25 grant awards. The project fosters social connection; addresses needs identified by the community and emphasizes assets using a big picture approach. This year they are focusing on cultivating school-community connectivity and collaborative, youth-centered programming.
St. Johnsbury, Newport and Morrisville Health Districts
Coalitions Northeast Prevention Coalition, 302 Cares, ONE Prevention and Healthy Lamoille Valley received $100,000 per Health District with an additional $2,000 to each coalition to increase supports for LGBTQIA+ youth. Funding for coalitions supports ongoing and sustainable substance misuse prevention work in their respective communities. Coalitions implement evidence-based practices aimed at promoting protective factors and reducing risk factors across the lifespan.
Advisory Committee
An Advisory Committee has been appointed to bring unique knowledge and skills and multi-sector input to the Prevention Lead Organization Grant.
Members include:
- Constance Anderson, Executive Director, Northeast Kingdom Youth Services
- Justin (Tin) Barton-Caplin, Director, Newport Office of the Vermont Department of Health
- Arial Beaulac, Recovery Coach, Kingdom Recovery Center
- Lila Bennett, Executive Director, Journey to Recovery Community Center
- Darryl Washington, Executive Director, Northeast Kingdom Council on Aging
- Alicia Crosby, Recovery Coach Programs Manager, North Central Vermont Recovery Center
- Jessie Dimick, Director of FQHC Operations, Northern Counties Health Care, Inc.
- Juliet Emas, Executive Director, St. Johnsbury Community Hub
- Sasha Emerson, Behavioral Health Program Coordinator, Little Rivers Health Care, Inc.
- Aaron French, Director, Morrisville Office of the Vermont Department of Health
- Terri Lavely, Training and Community Engagement Director, Northeast Kingdom Human Services
- Heather Lindstrom, Director, St. Johnsbury Office of the Vermont Department of Health
- Dave McAllister, Director, Laraway Youth and Family Services
- Christopher Mitchell, Agency of Human Services Field Director, Newport & St. Johnsbury
- Meghan Rodier, Planning Lead on Health Equity, Lamoille County Planning Commission
Responsibilities
For a description of the Advisory Committee member responsibilities, click here.
Strategic Plan
View and download the Needs and Disparities Statement here.
NEK PCE 2022-2024 Strategic Plan – click here to download
Resources
Data
Region 3 Scorecards:
Learn more.
Click here or email C.Towne@nvrh.org.